Removable refrigeration unit with cabinet structure



DeC- 25, 195Q J. l.. FLETCHER ET AL 2,535,790

REMOVABLE REFRIGERATION UNIT WITH CABINET STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 30, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

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REMOVABLE REFRIGERATION UNIT WITH CABINET STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 30, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mum, fiy...

Dec. 26, 1950 J. L. FLETCHER ET AL I 2,535,790

REMOVABLE REFRIGERATION UNIT WITH CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 50, 1946 4 Sheeis-Sheet 5 FIG.3 le FIG.5

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J L FLETCHER ETAL REMOVABLE REFRIGERATION UNIT WITH CABINET STRUCTURE Dec. 26, 1950 Filed Nov. 5o, 1946 Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOVABLE REFRIGERATION UNIT WITH CABINET STRUCTURE Application November 30, 1946, Serial No. 713,308

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to refrigeration cabinets and more particularly to a cabinet structure so constructed as to permit a hermetically sealed refrigeration system to be disposed in the cabinet and adapted for speedy removal therefrom as a unit when repairs, for example, are required to the refrigeration system.

It is desirable to provide a hermeticaliy sealed refrigeration system for` domestic refrigerators or freezers since the complete system can be manufactured at a central point rather than being assembled in the eld at the place of use. Such practice avoids leaks in the refrigeration system since under ordinary conditions factory assembly is more speedy, less expensive and, generally speaking, more satisfactory; in addition, a sealed system may be tested more adequately at the place of manufacture, thereby assuring that the system does not contain minor defects therein which might permit'escape of refrigerant.

Ihe chief object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration cabinet structure so constructed as to permit the ready insertion therein of a hermetically sealed refrigeration system, the system being readily and quickly removed as a unit when repairs are necessary thereto.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet structure of the freezer type containing therein a refrigeration system including an evaporator having a. length greater than its width, its length being greater than the openings in the storage compartment in which it is disposed.

A further object is to provide a refrigeration cabinet including a plurality of openings for access to the storage compartment, the openings being separated by a removable mullion and being closed by a plurality of doors which engage the removable mullion. The various lines connecting the evaporator disposed in the storage compartment of the cabinet with remaining elements of the refrigeration system are disposed beneath the breaker strips surrounding the door jambs in such manner that they are easily removed therefrom to permit removal of the evaporator and the remaining elements of the refrigeration system as an integral unit.

A still further object is to provide a method of assembly of a refrigeration cabinet to permit ready insertion of the refrigeration system in the cabinet with the evaporator thereof disposed in the storage compartment and to permit speedy and ready removal of the system in the cabinet when it is desired to make repairs to the system.

This invention relates to a refrigeration cabinet which comprises a shell, a liner spaced from the (Cl. (i2-117.2)

shell forming a storage compartment, insulation material disposed between the liner and the shell. the shell and the liner having an opening therethrough permitting access to the storage compartment, a removable mullion extending from one side of the opening to the other dividing the opening into a plurality of smaller openings, doors closing said openings, a heat exchanger disposed in the storage compartment having a length greater than the width of any of the openings, the mullion including a rear wall member, a front wall member removably connected to the shell, insulation material disposed between the wall members, and breaker strips, or any suitable insulating means forming the side walls of the mullion, removal of the mullion permitting removal of the heat exchanger as a unit. The remaining elements of the refrigeration equipment may bedisposed in the machine compartment preferably located below the storage compartment and are removable therefrom as a unit with the heat exchanger. The lines connecting the heat exchanger with the remaining elements of the refrigeration system are disposed beneath the breakerstrips surrounding the door openings and are concealed by the breaker strips. The system is readily removable when repairs are required thereto by opening the door members which close the storage compartment, removal of the breaker strips concealing the connecting lines, and removal of the mullion, thus permitting the heat exchanger and remaining elements of the refrigeration system to be removed from the cabinet as an integral unit and to be returned to the place of manufacture as reauired for purposes of repair.

This invention further relates to a method of assembling a refrigeration structure in which the steps comprise assembling a shell and al liner with insulation disposed therebetween to form an accessible storage compartment and a machine compartment, disposing refrigeration equipment assembled as an inte al unit in the structure with the heat exchange in the storage compartment extending substantially the length thereof, and the remaining elements in the machine compartment with connecting lines disposed between the` shell and the liner, attaching the rear wall member of a removable mullion to the liner in position to extend from one wall of the liner to the opposite wall thereof, attaching the front wall member of the removable mullion to the shell in spaced relation to the rear wall member, disposing insulation material between the wall members. disposing breaker strips in position to close the space between the liner and the shell and to form the sides of the mullion. placing a panel in position to close the machine compartment and attaching a plurality of doors to close the storage compartment, removal of the panel, breaker strips and mullion permitting removal of the refrigeration equipment as an integral unit from the structure.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which:

Figure l is a view in elevation of a refrigeration cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of a refrigeration system for assembly with the cabinet shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the removable mullion;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the removable mullion shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a view illustrating the manner in which connecting lines extend beneath the breaker strips of the structure.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a refrigeration cabinet 2 including an outer decorative shell 3 and a liner 4 forming a storage compartment 5. Shell 3 forms a machine compartment 6 preferably disposed beneath storage compartment 5. Insulation material 1 of any suitable type such as rock wool, cork board, glass wool, or the like is disposed between shell 3 and liner 4 and surrounds storage compartment 5 insulating it from the ambient atmosphere. Shell 3 and liner 4 are provided with aligned openings permitting access to the storage compartment 5 for the ready disposal and removal of products to be stored therein.

A mullion 8 divides the opening into the storage compartment 5 into a plurality of smaller openings 9 adapted to be closed by doors In. hinged at II to shell 3. Doors I engage mullion 8 and preferably are adapted to compress a gasket (not shown) surrounding.v the opening in order to securely seal the storage compartment.

Mullion 8 includes a rear wall member I2 adapted to be secured to a flange I3 of liner 4. Bar or strap members I4 are spot welded to member I2 and are provided with openings for the reception of fastening means adapted to secure member I2 to flange I3. The fastening means extend through the openings in members I4 and through the flanges I3 of liner 4 to secure wall member I2 in place extending perpendicularly of the opening into the storage compartment 5.

A front wall member I6 extends from side to side vertically of the opening in alignment with member I2. Member I6 is secured to flange i1 of the shell 3 by means of brackets I8 and suitable fastening means. Insulation material similar to insulation material 1 is disposed between members I2 and I6. Removable breaker strips or other suitable insulating means 2I are secured to flanges 22 and 23 of members I2 and I B to form side walls of the mullion.

A heat exchanger 24 is disposed in storage compartment 5. Heat exchanger 24 preferably is of a length greater than the width of the openings 9 to the storage compartment and serves as the evaporator of the refrigeration system. In addition, heat exchanger 24 may serve to provide shelves for stored products. The heat exchanger so described is illustrated and claimed in the copending application of T. G. Crider, Serial No. 713,307, filed November 30, 1946, now Patent No.

2,489,754, issued November 29, 1949. The remain- Ing elements of the refrigeration system including the compressor. the condenser and the like, as well as the actuating means of the compressor are disposed in machine compartment 5. A plurality of lines 26 connect heat exchanger 24 with the remaining elements 25 of the refrigeration syf.- tem.

,Connecting lines 26 are disposed in the structure, preferably, in such manner as to be concealed from view while permitting removal of the heat exchanger, and the remaining elements of the system as an integral unit. These lines are preferably imbedded in the insulation material 1 between liner 4 and shell 3 at one side of an opening 5, beneath breaker -strips 21. Preferably, a notch (not shown) is formed in flange I3 to permit lines 26 to be connected to heat exchanger 24. Breaker strips 21 are secured to flanges I3 and I1 by suitable fastening means 29. At the bottom of opening 9 an opening 30 is provided in the front wall of shell 3 adapted to be closed by a suitable plate 3i secured to shell 3. A panel 32 is provided to close machine compartment 6. The lines 26 extend from heat exchanger 24 beneath breaker strip 21 forming a side of the door jamb and then across the bottom of the door iamb beneath a second breaker strip to opening and downwardly into the machine compartment where they connect with the remaining elements of the refrigeration system. It will be noted that removal of the panel 32, plate 3l, breaker strips 21 and mullion 3 permits ready removal of the refrigeration system as an integral unit.

In the method of assembling a refriseraton cabinet including a refrigeration system adapted l to be installed and removed therefrom as an integral unit, the shell 3 and liner 4 are assembled in spaced relation to one another with insulation material disposed therebetween. The refrigeration system is then disposed in the structure with the heat exchanger 24 disposed in the storage compartment formed by liner 4 and the remaining elements 25 of the refrigeration system disposed in the machine compartment 6. Lines 26 connectingr heat exchanger 24 with the remaining elements 25 of the svstem are disposed between liner 4 and shell 3 and imbedded in the insulation material 1. As described above, such lines extend beneath the breaker strips and opening 39 into the machine compartment. The rear wall member I2 of removable muliion 8 is then disposed in position and is connected to liner 4. Mullion 8, of course, divides the opening into a plurality of smaller openings adapted to bel closed by doors III. The front wall member I6 of mullion 3 is then disposed in position and secured in place attached to flange I1 of shell 3 by fastening means and brackets I3. Insulation material 20 is disposed between wall members I2 and I6. A plurality of breaker strips 2| and 21 are disposed about each opening into the storage compartment; strips 2i being attached to mullion 3 to form its sidewalls while strips 21 are secured to flanges I3 and I1 of shell 3 and liner 4. Breaker strips 21 conceal lines 26 connecting the elements of the refrigeration system. Plate 3i is disposed in position closing opening 3l) in shell 3 and panel 32 is secured in place closing machine compartment 6. The structure is thus assembled ready for use.

Assume, for example, that a leak occurs in the refrigeration system and it is desired to remove it from the cabinet, return it to the factory for repair, and to dispose a second 'system in place in the structure. Mullion 8 and breaker strips 2i are easily removed from the structure, ii' desired. as a unit. Breaker strips 21, plate 3| and panel 32 are aso quickly and easily removed from the structure. Upon removal of such elements the refrigeration system may be removed i'rom the cabinet as an integral unit and a second svstem disposed in place in the cabinet. 'I'he removed elements are quickly and easily assemhled in the structure, and the cabinet is again ready for use.

This invention provides a refrigeration cabinet containing a refrigeration system including a heat exchanger disposed in the storage compartment of the cabinet having a length greater than the openings into the storage compartment. The present invention permits such heat exchanger to be inserted in the storage compartment assembled with the remaining elements of the refrigeration system and forming an integral unit. The cabinet is so assembled that a few minor members thereof may be readilv removed to permit speedy and ready removal of the refrigeration system from the structure as an integral unit and to permit a second refrigeration system to be disposed therein when repairs..for example, are necessarv to the system. This advantage is provided in such a manner that it does not detract from the ready and economical assembly of the structure during production line assemblies. and as a matter of fact. considerably decreases the cost of assembly of the structure.

This invention provides a method of assembling a refrigeration cabinet of the freezer tvne including a hermetically sealed refrigeration system in which the refrigeration system may be disposed in the cabinet at the place of manufacture rather than being disposed therein in sections in the fleld when it is desired to place the structure in use. So doing provides an advantage in that the refrigeration system may be more adequately tested at the factory than it could be in the field. Another advantage so provided resides in the fact that such systems may be returned to and serviced at the factory rather than in the eld. This is desirable since the factory is provided with more adequate eouipment for servicing refrigeration systems than can possibly be provided by servicemen.

While I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood my invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a refrigeration assembly, the combination of a decorative shell. a liner spaced from the shell enclosing a storage compartment, insulation material disposed between the shell and the liner, said shell forming a machine compartment. said shell and liner having an opening extending therethrough permitting access to the storage compartment, a removable mullion extending vertically from one side of the opening to the other and separating the opening into a plurality of smaller openings adapted to be closed by doors, a plurality of doors closing said openings. said doors being supported from said shell, said mullion including a rear wall member, means removably connecting said member to opposite sides of the liner. a front wall member, means removably connecting the front wall member `to opposite sides of the shell surrounding the opening therein, insulation material disposed between said mulllon wall members, breaker strips disposed about the door openings closing the space between the liner and the shell and forming side wall members for the mullion, means securing the breaker strips in place, a heat exchanger disposed in the storage compartment, said heat exchanger having a length greater than the width of the door openings, refrigeration equipment disposed in the machine compartment, lines connecting the equipment with the heat exchanger, said lines extending beneath the breaker strips at a door opening, a panel closing the machine compartment, and a plate closing an opening in 'the front wall of the shell above said panel, removal of the' panel, plate, breaker strips and mullion permitting the withdrawal of the heat exchanger from the storage compartment, withdrawal of equipment from the machine compartment and the connecting lines from beneath the breaker strips as an assembled unit.

2. In a refrigeration assembly, the combination of a decorative shell having an inwardly extending ange, a liner spaced from. the shell having an outwardly extending ilange and forming a storage compartment. said shell forming a machine compartment disposed below said storage compartment, said shell and said liner having an opening extending therethrough permitting access to the storage compartment, a removable mullion extending from one side of the opening to the other and separating the opening into a plurality of smaller openings adapted to be closed by doors, a plurality of doors closing said openings, said doors being supported from said shell, said mullion including a. rear Wall member having nanges at its ends. means removably securing said flanges to the ilange of the liner, a front wall member, means removably securing said front wall member to the flange of said shell. insulation material disposed between said wall members, breaker strips disposed about said door openings closing the space between the shell and the liner and forming side walls for said mullion, means securing the breaker strips in position, a heat exchanger disposed in the storage compartment forming at least some of the shelves for the reception of stored articles, said heat exchanger having a length greater than the width of the door open- Cil ' of a shell, a liner spaced from the shell enclosing a storage compartment, insulation material disposed between the shell and the liner, said liner and shell having an opening therethrough permitting access to the storage compartment, a removable mullion extending from one side of the opening to the ,other and separating the opening into a plurality of similar openings, said mullion including a rear wall member, strap members secured to the rear wall member, said strap members having openings therein, fastening means extending through the openings 1n the strap members to secure the rear wall member to the liner. a front wall member, brackets adjacent the front wall member and the'sheli,

and fastening means securing the brackets to 5 the front wall member and to the shell, a heat exchanger in the storage compartment having a length greater than the width of the opening therein, a machine compartment enclosed by the shell, elements of the refrigeration system disposed in the machine compartment, said elements being connected to the heat exchanger in the storage compartment, removal of the mullion permitting removal of the heat exchanger and the elements of the refrigeration equlp- 15 ment as a unit.

JAMES L. FLETCHER. WALTER PEGLOW. THOMAS G. CRIDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record 1n the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,385,274 Rhodes July 19, 1921 1,452,271 Gwyer Apr. 17, 1923 1,789,916 Thornton Jan. 20, 1931 1,791,503 Hull Feb. 10, 1931 1,825,731 Hull Oct. 6, 1931 1,911,432 Chase May 30, 1933 1,948,587 Macready Feb. 27, 1934 2,117,082 Derbyshire May 10, 1938 2,266,703 Cooper Dec. 16, 1941 2,414,061 -Rlchard et al. Jan. 7, 1947 2,445,470 Brauer July 20, 1948 

